Apparatus for sorting seeds according to color

Abstract

Seeds are sorted according to color by placing the seeds in uniform rows of indentations in a rotating drum and passing the seeds beneath a digital/imaging camera and strobe lights which create images of the seeds. The images are fed to a computer, which also receives information from a drum speed sensor. The computer generates a signal which causes a blast of air to blow through an opening in the bottom of any identation containing a discolored seed to reject such seed. Rejected seeds are fed into a reject hopper, and the selected or good seeds remaining in the drum indentations fall from the drum into another hopper.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An apparatus for sorting seeds according to color, comprising: (a) drum means including a peripheral wall having an external peripheral surface;   (b) said peripheral surface having a width;   (c) said peripheral wall having a thickness;   (d) a plurality of seed receiving means disposed in rows extending across the width of said peripheral surface and each receiving an individual seed therein;   (e) each of said seed receiving means including indentation means;   (f) said indentation means comprising generally cup-shaped recesses extending substantially through the thickness of the peripheral wall of said drum means and for holding therein an individual seed by the force of gravity;   (g) means associated with each of said seed receiving means for dislodging individual seeds therefrom;   (h) digital imaging means for creating an image of a portion of the peripheral surface of said drum means including at least one row of seeds;   (i) means for analyzing said image for determination of differences in seed color in said at least one row of seeds and comparing color differences of seeds against a predetermined standard;   (j) means for selectively operating said dislodging means for ejecting seeds which do not conform to said predetermined standard from respective seed receiving means;   (k) first hopper means disposed on one side of and for feeding seeds to said drum means by the force of gravity;   (l) second hopper means disposed opposite to said first hopper means for receiving seeds that do not conform to said predetermined standard;   (m) two-roller brush means disposed external to said drum means and positioned between said first hopper means and said digital imaging means for uniformly distributing the seeds over the peripheral surface of said drum means; and   (n) single drive means for rotating both said drum means and said two-roller brush means.   
     
     
       2. An apparatus according to claim 1, and including: (a) third hopper means for accepting seeds released by the force of gravity and that meet said predetermined standard separately from and subsequently to ejecting seeds that do not conform to said predetermined standard.   
     
     
       3. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein: (a) said drive means rotates said drum means continuously without interruptions.   
     
     
       4. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein: (a) each of said dislodging means includes blower means;   (b) said digital imaging means includes camera means; and   (c) said operating means includes control means.   
     
     
       5. An apparatus according to claim 4, wherein: said two-roller brush means removes excess seeds from said drum means before the seed-containing indentation means reach the position of said camera means. 
     
     
       6. An apparatus according to claim 4, including strobe light means associated with said camera means for illuminating a selected area of said drum means to facilitate creation of the image thereof. 
     
     
       7. An apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said control means includes sensor means for sensing the speed of rotation of said drum means, whereby actuation of said blower means is correlated to positioning of said indentation means containing the selected seeds over said blower means. 
     
     
       8. An apparatus according to claim 7, including an opening in the bottom of each indentation means; and nozzle means equal in number to the number of indentation means and openings in the area photographed by said camera means during the creation of each image. 
     
     
       9. An apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said nozzle means define a row inside of said drum means. 
     
     
       10. An apparatus according to claim 4, wherein: (a) said recesses having top openings lying generally coplanar with said peripheral surface.   
     
     
       11. An apparatus according to claim 10, wherein: (a) said recesses are sized so as to receive only one seed therein.